The airport is built on the site of the Pocatello Army Airfield, a World War II training base. Many of the base facilities have been razed, although four large hangars remain. The airport is also the home to the National Weather Service Pocatello Office.

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In 1943, the Pocatello Army Airfield was built as a Second Air Force heavy bomber (B-17, B-24) training base.

In 1949, it became surplus property and was obtained by the city of Pocatello to build a commercial airport.

Western Air Lines served Pocatello for a number of years, but discontinued all service by 1980.[7] According the airline's August 1, 1968 system timetable, Western operated Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprops into Pocatello. This Electra service was then replaced with Boeing 737-200 jetliner service with nonstop flights to Salt Lake City, and direct flights to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, according to the airline's September 6, 1973 system timetable. After discontinuing mainline flights, the airline subsequently served the airport as Western Express which was operated as code share service by SkyWest with commuter turboprop aircraft.[8]

Horizon Air served Pocatello until January 7, 2006, originally with service to Salt Lake City in 1983. The airline canceled that service in favor of flights to Boise starting in 1984 operated with de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprops[9]